Ex-health care exec gets 5 years for $99M rip-off

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A former health care executive was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for helping his Philippines-based company swindle nearly $100 million from the U.S. military health insurance program.

Thomas Lutz, 41, said in federal court he took responsibility for the six-year scheme in which Health Visions Corp. bilked $99.9 million from the military's Tricare program through inflated and fraudulent claims.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb said the five-year sentence was modest given the extent of the fraud but it was the longest she could impose under Lutz's plea deal.